Early Sexual Activity Not So Bad

Intimacy is very important in a relationship. Through intimacy, the couple or partners share something special.

Their communication and understanding of each other is more than simple facts as their knowledge of each other goes deeper because of intimacy.

Sexual interaction is always a part of intimacy between partners and couples since physical expression of intimacy is part of knowing each other. Aside from having an emotional bond with an individual, physical intimacy will lead to a more meaningful relationship.

While intimacy and sexual expression of the relationship is important, it’s often frowned when this specific physical interaction is done among adolescents.

It’s a common belief that adolescents who engage in sexual intimacy may likely end up having deviant sexual behaviors when they reach adulthood. Because of this belief, many talks about abstinence are conducted for the youth.

But the idea of deviant sexual behavior caused by early sexual experience is challenged by recent study among adolescents. A study was conducted among identical twins and reports were made at three significant points of their lives for seven years.

The research chose twins to avoid a difference in variables that may affect the veracity the result. The research was done by the University of Virginia and the findings were published in “Journal of Youth and Adolescence”.

The study suggests that those who engaged in sexual activity during their adolescent years did not end up having weird or deviant sexual behaviors.

Many went on to their normal way of life and their early sexual experience did not push them to have any deviant sexual behaviors.

The cause of the idea of developing deviant sexual behavior from early sexual experience is from the presumption that the sexual act was made in defiance of parents.

Because of that defiance, they may continue to find ways to shock or at least disappoint their parents and that can be exhibited in deviant sexual behavior.

But many did not count the actual emotional intimacy between sexual partners even in their adolescent years. Their emotional bond may not be long lasting but the emotional connection for those who engage in sex exists.

The study doesn’t even factor out the dangers of adolescents when they engage in sex at an early age. This doesn’t mean that adolescents should be pushed to have sex. Sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy can happen when adolescents engage in sexual intimacy.

In fact, this study highlights the need of further education to adolescents. There is always a chance that they will engage in a sexual act so they have to be educated as much as possible in the dangers of certain forms of intimacy, particularly unprotected sex.

Sexual activity in teens is high in the western world but US have a high level of unplanned pregnancy among teens. Other countries also have the same level of sexual activity among teens but their problem with teenage pregnancy is significantly lower.

The key to the success in other countries: better education for their teens. Aside from advocating abstinence, adolescents should also be well educated on protection.